backstory Cincy comedian marcell huffaker’s 2018 shooting unsolved

For the families of victims killed in unsolved murders, life is at a standstill.

The Enquirer is highlighting a series of cold cases, summarized and analyzed by the journalists whose careers largely focus on unsolved murders: the creators of Cincinnati.com's Accused podcast. If you have any information on any unsolved case, please reach out to the appropriate law enforcement agency. Suggestions for cases to highlight can be sent to [email protected]. 

The crime: When Vanessa Huffaker tries to picture the scene that took her brother's life, she can't make sense of it. 

Marcell Huffaker, 52, was at a friend's apartment in East Price Hill having some drinks May 29, 2018. He and the friend decided to go to the store to pick up more beverages, so they set out to walk toward a car about 10:40 p.m.

As soon as they reached the building's parking lot, Vanessa Huffaker said the friend fired two gunshots into the air.

"And the next thing you know, Marcell was shot in the chest from another direction," the 53-year-old said. "And the friend took off running."

She said police have told her the slaying was likely committed by someone randomly firing gunshots toward the apartment complex. If that's true, she has some questions. Like why was there only one shot fired and how did it happen to hit her brother in the chest? What was the purpose of the friend's two gunshots that preceded it? Was that random, too, or was it a signal to someone else?

"It don't make sense to me," she said.

The victim: Ask Vanessa Huffaker what her brother was like, and her 21-year-old daughter chimes in from across the room.